Stunning picture captures a moment in the life of a lonely polar bear isolated on an ice floe in the Arctic Ocean

This breathtaking photograph captures a moment in the life of a lonely polar bear. Pictured against a stunning landscape in the Arctic Ocean, the solitary creature is seen pausing on a block of ice before continuing its journey to find food.

The spectacular image, complete with a burning orange sunset, was taken by Italian photographer, Marco Gaiotti, 30, whilst on board a wildlife tour boat.

However, beyond the beauty of the photograph lies a more serious issue, as the melting ice has never been seen so far north from the Svalbard coastline, the northernmost part of Norway.

Mr Gaiotti said: 'I was on board a boat when I managed to capture this particular image, arctic animals are very curious and tend to approach any ship they spot.

'We followed the ice edge for a few hours, then we spotted the bear and approached it very slowly. It stayed with us for about an hour, then it walked away and disappeared into the ice.

'It's hard to know if it knew where it was headed but I know they can walk for several tens of kilometres each day, jumping and swimming from one ice block to another.'

Bear against the world: The loney polar bear pictured against a magnificent arctic sunset. The solitary creature is seen pausing on a block of ice before continuing it's journey to find food

Captured: The spectacular image, complete with a burning orange sunset, was taken by Italian photographer, Marco Gaiotti, 30, whilst on board a wildlife tour boat